UniSport Australia names Mark Sinderberry as new CEO

UniSport Australia (UniSport) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Sinderberry as the new Chief Executive Officer of the national peak body for university sport in Australia.

UniSport Chair, David Schmude, said Mark’s appointment will commence in December, after the current CEO Don Knapp finishes at the end of this month.

“After a comprehensive national search conducted by Eden Ritchie Recruitment, the UniSport Australia Board is pleased to secure Mark for this role,” David said.

“Mark’s astute business and leadership acumen, coupled with extensive experience in fostering membership-based sporting organisations, made him a clear choice for the role,” David continued.

Mark was the founding chief executive of the ACT Brumbies Rugby in 1995, and spent six years as Group CEO of English premiership club Saracens, and four years as CEO of the Western Force.

“I am delighted to be joining UniSport Australia at this significant time, with the opportunity to build on the work that has commenced under Don Knapp and the UniSport Board to fully develop and implement the divisional and national sports model,” Mark said.

“I am particularly keen to work with the UniSport staff to ensure we are driving value to our members, and supporting them to provide the opportunity for all students to have a healthy, active, engaged, and well-rounded higher education experience,” Mark concluded.

“In appointing Mark today, the Board wishes to acknowledge and thank Don for his tireless dedication, integrity, and determination to advocate the value of university sport and elevate its position as a key component of the higher education experience,” David said.

Mark’s appointment heralds the next stage of the UniSport story, with the organisation having undergone a significant transformation throughout 2018.

“In 2018 we not only revealed our new brand – UniSport Australia, but we also undertook an extensive review of the delivery of our flagship event series, leading to the new two-division format of the UniSport Nationals,” David concluded.

The UniSport Nationals are comprised of a number of events held throughout Australia each year, with the flagship Nationals Div 1 and 2 serving as the country’s largest multisport

events for university student-athletes.